This article describes the major types of religious Jewish music from the days of the Temple to modern times.
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The history of religious Jewish music
The history of religious Jewish music is about cantorial, synagogal, and Temple music from the Bible to modern times. The earliest synagogical music was based on the same system used in the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Misnah, the regular Temple orchestra consists of twelve instruments, and a choir of twelve male singers. A number of additional instruments were known to the ancient Hebrews, although they were not included in the ordinary orchestra of the Temple: uggav, a flute or oboe-like instrument,.
After the destruction of the Temple and the diaspora of the subsequent Jews, the music was initially forbidden. Later, these restrictions will be relaxed, except for the Yemeni Jews who maintain strict adherence to the Talmud and Maimonidean halakha and "instead of developing musical instruments, they perfected singing and rhythm." (See the Yemeni Jewish poem For the modern Yemeni-Israeli music phenomenon, however, see Yemen's Jewish music.)
It's with piyyutim (liturgical poetry) that Jewish music began to crystallize into a definite form. The singer sings piyyutim for a melody chosen by the author or by himself, thus introducing the melodies that remain in synagogical music. Music may have retained some phrases in Scripture readings that remember the songs of the Temple itself; but in general it echoes the notes that the Jews of every age and country heard around him, not only in borrowing actual songs, but rather in the tone of voice that became the basis of local music.
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Classic Jewish religious music
From the age of the Renaissance Jewish community in Western Europe has shown an interest in modernizing services by introducing music composed on the European model. Salamone Rossi, a composer at Mantua Palace, published a volume of arrangement of psalms in a Baroque style similar to Monteverdi, but this did not become very popular in the use of the synagogue until it was revived in the late 19th century. In the 18th century, the Venetian community commissioned a number of works from non-Jewish composers such as Carlo Grossi and Benedetto Marcello.
Already in 1603, sources told us that harpsichords were used in Spanish and Portuguese synagogues in Hamburg. Especially in the Amsterdam community, but to some extent also in Hamburg and elsewhere, there was the development of classical music in the synagogue in the 18th century. Important composers at that time included Abraham de Casseres, Christian Joseph Lidarti and others. Previously there was a habit in Amsterdam, inspired by clues in the Zohar, holding an instrumental concert on Friday afternoon before the coming of the Sabbath, as a means of getting the congregation in the right mood for the Friday night service.
In the Ashkenazi world, the prime impetus for Jewish music laid out came in Vienna early in the 19th century, where Salomon Sulzer arranged for most of the synagogue services, reflecting traditional Jewish music but arranged in a style reminiscent of Schubert, who was a friend. and contemporary. Setting in a rather similar style was composed by Louis Lewandowski from Berlin, Samuel Naumbourg from Paris and the Japhet of Frankfurt. From this period the date of widespread use of choirs and organs, although in the Orthodox synagogue the organs are not played on Shabbat or festivals, and their use is often limited to celebrations such as weddings. The 20th-century Anglo-Jewish composer in the same sense is Samuel Alman, Mombach and Saqui.
Contemporary Jewish religious music
Jewish music Religion in the 20th century has been very varied. Jewish Music The religion of the twentieth century stretched from Shlomo Carlebach's nigunim to Jewish feminist Debbie Friedman, to many of Daniel Ben Shalom's voices. Velvel Pasternak has spent most of the late 20th century acting as a preservationist and doing what has become a strong oral tradition on paper. Jewish music regularly jumps into mainstream consciousness, with reggae artist Matisyahu being the most recent example. In the 1970s, the Jewish children's choir became popular as Pirchei (Volume 1 -6), Miami Boys Choir, Toronto Pirchei, and London School of Jewish Song. In addition, vocal groups became a trend with Rabbis' Sons, Rashi and Rishonim, Simchatone, and Ohr Chodosh.
Also, many Orthodox Jews often limit their children's exposure to the music produced by those who are not Orthodox Jews, so they will not be affected by what the parents see as dangerous non-Orthodox ideas and modes. A large group of music produced by Orthodox Jews for children is directed to teach traditions and religious and ethical laws. The lyrics of these songs are generally written in English with some Hebrew or Yiddish phrases.
Cantillation
Perhaps the oldest surviving tradition in Jewish music is the melody used in reading passages from Scripture. These melodies are symbolized by special signs printed above or below every word in the Hebrew Bible, and very different from the Jewish community, although some features found in many traditions show the same origin. They may also differ depending on the book or the part being read, or the time of year (for example there are special melodies for scripture reading at High Holy Days, Tisha B'Av, Purim, and three holiday festivals, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavu'ot, as well as deviations from typical melodies to chant 10 commands, sea chants and some other smaller pieces of text.)
Prayer chants
Many of the passages in the prayer book, such as Amidah and Psalm, are recititized rather than either read in normal speech or sung in rhythmic tones: the style of singing in certain communities is sometimes known as niachach. The readers follow the musical mode system, somewhat like Arabic music maqamat. For example, Ashkenazi's cantorial practice distinguishes a number of so-called "steiger (scale) names according to the most commonly used prayers, such as Adonoi moloch steiger and > Ahavoh rabboh steiger . The Mizrahi community is like the Syrian Jews using the full maqam system.
The scales used can vary both with certain prayers and with seasons. For example, there are often special modes for High Holy Days, and in Syria practice the scale used depends on reading the Torah for this week (see Weekly Maqam). In some cases the actual melody is fixed, while in others the reader has the freedom of improvisation.
Certain passages in prayers, such as Nishmat, Kaddish who preceded Barechu, and Kedushah, lend themselves to a more complicated chorus or choral arrangement. In some traditions, popular hymns are borrowed for this, while in others there is a special choir composition.
Piyyut
Piyyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually devoted to singing, singing, or being read during worship. Pimples have been written since Mishnaic times. Most piyyutim in Hebrew or Aramaic, and most follow poetic schemes, such as acrostic follow the Hebrew alphabet or spell the name of the author. Many in quantitative meters are used for Arabic poetry.
Many piyyutim are familiar to visitors of the regular synagogue service. For example, the most famous piyyut may be Adon Olam ("World Master"), sometimes associated with Solomon ibn Gabirol in the 11th century Spain. His poetic form consists only of eight syllables, and is so beloved that it is often sung at the end of many synagogue services, after the evening ritual says of the Shema, and during the morning ritual wearing tefillin. Another beloved Piyyut is Yigdal ("May God Sanctify"), based on the Thirteen Faith Principles developed by Maimonides.
Piyyutim has traditional songs, but this varies greatly between communities, and one community may have up to ten different songs for famous piyyutim such as Adon Olam and Yigdal . Modern Jewish composers such as Philip Glass often arrange the chorus arrangements of piyyutim.
Zemirot
Zemirot is a Jewish hymn song, usually sung in Hebrew or Aramaic, but sometimes also in Yiddish or Ladino. The most famous of the zemirot are the ones sung around the tables on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Some Sabbaths zemirot are specific for certain times of the day, such as those sung for Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and Seudah Shlishit, a third Sabbath dish just before sundown on Saturday afternoon. In several editions of the Jewish prayer book (siddur), the words for this hymn are printed after the opening prayer (kiddush) for each meal. More zemirot is more generic and can be sung during meals or other sacred events.
The words for many zemirots are taken from poems written by various rabbis and wise men during the Middle Ages. Others are anonymous folk songs that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Nigun
Nigun refers to religious songs and songs sung by groups. It is an instrumental form of sound, often without lyrics or words, though it sounds like "bim-bim-bam" or "Ai-ai-ai!" often used for. Sometimes, Biblical verses or quotations from other classical Jewish texts are sung repeatedly in the form of nigun . Nigunim is largely improvisation, although they can be based on thematic sections and made in the form.
The awakening of flowers in Nigun was triggered as part of Hasidism. Different Hasid groups have their own nigunim , often composed by Rebbe or their leaders. One of the most famous palace composers is the Yankel Talmud, who leads Ger's choir at Ger's main synagogue in Poland and in Jerusalem, and also garnered more than 1,5000 nigunim to accompany the prayers. Hasidim gather around the day off to sing in groups. There are also nigunim for individual meditation, called devekus or devekut (related to God) nigunim. This is usually much slower than the nigunim around the table, and is almost always sung without lyrics. Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism, speaks of devekus nigunim as "a song that transcends syllables and sounds." Some songs associated with him are still used today.
Pizmonim
Pizmonim is a traditional Jewish song and melody with the intention of praising God and learning certain aspects of traditional religious teachings. They are sung throughout religious rituals and celebrations such as prayer, circumcision, bar mitzvah, weddings and other ceremonies. Pizmonim is traditionally associated with Middle Eastern Sephardic Jews, although they are associated with the Ashkenazi Jewish zemirot. The most famous tradition is related to Jews from Aleppo, although similar traditions exist among Iraqi Jews (where the songs are known as
The texts of many pizmonim dates back to the Middle Ages or earlier, and are often based on Scriptures. Many were taken from Tanakh, while others were composed by poets such as Judah Halevi and Israel Najara of Gaza. Some melodies are quite old, while others may be based on popular Middle Eastern music, with words specially composed to fit the rhythm.
Baqashot
Baqashot is a collection of requests, songs, and prayers that have been sung by the Jewish community of Aleppian Sephardic and other congregations for centuries each week on the Sabbath morning from midnight to dawn. Usually they are recited during the winter weeks, when the night is much longer.
Baqashot's singing habits originated in Spain at the time of expulsion, but took up an increasing momentum in Kabbalistic circles in Safed in the 16th century. Baqashot may evolve from the tradition of pronouncing petition prayers before dawn and propagated from Safed by the followers of Isaac Luria (16th century). With the widespread Safed Kabbalistic doctrine, Baqashot singing reaches countries throughout the Mediterranean and becomes a custom in the communities of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Rhodes, Greece, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Turkey and Syria. It also affected the Kabbalistic-oriented harmony of Italy in the 18th century, and even became a habit for a time in the Sephardic community of Western Europe, such as Amsterdam and London, although in these communities it has since been dropped. At the turn of the 20th century Baqashot has become a widespread practice of religion in some communities in Jerusalem as a form of common prayer.
Bibliography
- Grove Music Dictionary, an article on "Jewish Music"
References
External links
- Jewish Music A large database of free Jewish religious music files for download. Includes audio and video presentations.
- shulmusic.org Collection representing the Anglo-German choir tradition, in sheet music and sound files
- Music in Kabbalah.
- Nigun from Ethnomusicology Perspective
- Nigun nigun.info Strength
- Pizmonim Sephardic Project
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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